Page 918 - war-and-peace

Mitenka flew headlong down the six steps and ran away
into the shrubbery. (This shrubbery was a well-known ha-
ven of refuge for culprits at Otradnoe. Mitenka himself,
returning tipsy from the town, used to hide there, and many
of the residents at Otradnoe, hiding from Mitenka, knew of
its protective qualities.)
Mitenka’s wife and sisters-in-law thrust their heads and
frightened faces out of the door of a room where a bright
samovar was boiling and where the steward’s high bedstead
stood with its patchwork quilt.
The young count paid no heed to them, but, breath-
ing hard, passed by with resolute strides and went into the
house.
The countess, who heard at once from the maids what
had happened at the lodge, was calmed by the thought that
now their affairs would certainly improve, but on the other
hand felt anxious as to the effect this excitement might have
on her son. She went several times to his door on tiptoe and
listened, as he lighted one pipe after another.
Next day the old count called his son aside and, with an
embarrassed smile, said to him:
‘But you know, my dear boy, it’s a pity you got excited!
Mitenka has told me all about it.’
‘I knew,’ thought Nicholas, ‘that I should never under-
stand anything in this crazy world.’
‘You were angry that he had not entered those 700 rubles.
But they were carried forwardand you did not look at the
other page.’
‘Papa, he is a blackguard and a thief! I know he is! And

918 War and Peace